Japanese Investors Start to Cut the Cord

By

Kana Inagaki And

Daniel Inman

March 25, 2013 7:13 p.m. ET

As global investors load up on Japanese stocks in a bet that the economy will break out of a two-decadelong slump, the country's affluent mom-and-pop investors are venturing into global markets at the fastest pace in years.

The move may finally help unlock some of the $8.8 trillion held in cash and bank deposits by Japanese households. The moves also could add to pressure on the yen, as investors sell the currency to buy overseas...